Image reproduction apparatus

ABSTRACT

A presentation supporting system is constructed to be space-saving and to allow compact packing under a non-service condition. In the presentation supporting system, the presentation conditions are adjusted adequately without much labor and time. The presentation supporting system of the invention has a table on which a subject matter is placed, a camera head unit for taking a visual image of the subject matter, a camera supporting base member projecting upright from a rear side of the table, and a folding camera supporting arm member to which the camera head unit is fixed. The folding camera supporting arm member is stretched upward under a service condition and is folded under a non-service condition. The presentation supporting system includes a control circuit having an EEPROM which stores settings of control buttons on a front operation panel and a control panel when a key set button is activated. These settings include selection of auxiliary lighting units for reflecting light or a base light unit for transmitting light, a sound output volume, an iris opening, a focal position, a zoom range, settings of a white balance mode and a display mode. The control circuit reads an operating condition of the key set button immediately after power is supplied, and reproduces the settings stored in the EEPROM under an ON condition of the key set button. Under an OFF condition of the key set button the control circuit sets default values.

This is a division of application Ser. No. 08/183,051, filed Jan. 18,1994, pending.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a presentation supporting system whichtakes a visual image of a material placed on a table with a video cameraand outputs a reproduction image representing the material to anexternal display unit, and also to a control device used in thepresentation supporting system.

2. Description of the Related Art

Over-head projectors (OHP) are most popular visual presenters used in avariety of fields. With significant improvement of CCD (charge coupleddevice) cameras, novel presentation supporting systems using a CCDcamera have been developed and proposed. In such a presentationsupporting system, a visual image of a material, a sample, or anothersubject matter placed on a table is taken with a CCD camera disposedabove the table, and is output as video signals to an externaltelevision set or video tape recorder. Stationary presentationsupporting systems generally include a video camera such as a 3-plateCCD camera which requires a relatively large space.

In the presentation supporting system with a large-sized CCD camera forexpanding a shooting range, the CCD camera with a certain lens systemshould be held with an arm member a predetermined distance apart fromthe material on the table to ensure a required shooting distance. Thismakes the whole presentation supporting system undesirably large andbulky. Such large-sized presentation supporting systems do not causesignificant problems in the process of presentation, but cause bulkypackaging and difficulty in shipment and require a large space forstorage.

The above problem may be solved by an improved structure where the armmember for holding the CCD camera is folded from its base as a supportarm of a condenser of the OHP. This improved system still has a problemthat a long arm member for holding the CCD camera at a certain positionsufficiently apart from the table is partly located out of the tableunder the folded condition. This requires a packaging box to have arelatively complicated shape.

A novel presentation supporting system which can be compactly stored andpacked in a simple shape of a packaging box has accordingly beenrequired.

With rapid development of image processing technology, advancedfunctions have been added to the presentation supporting system.

In a typical presentation supporting system with advanced functions, theoperator can arbitrarily set presentation conditions including selectionof lighting, selection of data input, the iris conditions, selection ofeither B&W display or color display, and the color balance. Thepresentation conditions further include the amplification or soundvolume when a microphone can be connected to the presentation supportingsystem. The operator can also select an external display system forshowing a reproduction image out of plural options or an input system ofvideo signals out of plural options. In the multi-functionalpresentation supporting system, effective presentation including clearreproduction is attained through adequate adjustment of thesepresentation conditions.

With significant increase in the presentation conditions, a relativelylong time is required for adjustment of these conditions. For example,when the material placed on the table is a type-written sheet or sample,an auxiliary lighting unit disposed above the table is generally used asa reflected light source. When the material is a X-ray film or slide, onthe other hand, a base light unit built in the table is generally usedas a transmitted light source. The iris control and the color balanceshould also be varied according to the type of the material. Theseconditions are generally adjusted by operating a variety of switchesmounted on the presentation supporting system. These is, however, aproblem that the presentation conditions once set by an operator, forexample, for X-ray films are returned to the initial settings every timewhen the power is turned off, or are changed to other conditions whenanother operator uses the system to show another type of material.

In actual presentation, a plurality of materials should be shown withina short time period. The materials used in presentation are prepared tomeet an identical set of presentation conditions since manual adjustmentof the presentation conditions requires a relatively long time. In othercases, a plurality of presentation supporting systems are used to showdifferent types of materials.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One object of the present invention is thus to provide a novelpresentation supporting system which is sufficiently space-saving andallows compact packing while the system is in a non-service condition.

Another object of the invention is to provide a presentation supportingsystem wherein presentation conditions can be adjusted adequatelywithout much labor and time.

The above and other related objects are realized by a presentationsupporting system of the invention including a video camera for takingan image of a material, a sample, or another subject matter placed on atable, and a retention unit for supporting the video camera at apredetermined camera position for taking an image of the subject matterplaced on the table. Image signals representing the image of the subjectmatter taken by the video camera are transmitted to an external displayunit for showing a reproduction image of the subject matter. Theretention unit further includes a camera supporting base member fixed tothe table, a camera supporting arm member on which the video camera ismounted, and an arm joint member for joining the camera supporting armmember with the camera supporting base member to allow the camerasupporting arm member to fold towards the table at a predetermined jointof the camera supporting arm member with the camera supporting basemember so as to move the video camera from the predetermined cameraposition to a center position directly above the table.

In the presentation supporting system of the invention, the retentionunit for holding the video camera at a predetermined camera positionincludes the camera supporting base member fixed to the table and thecamera supporting arm member on which the video camera is mounted. Thearm joint member joins the camera supporting arm member with the camerasupporting base member to allow the camera supporting arm member to foldtowards the table. By folding the camera supporting arm member, thevideo camera is moved from the predetermined camera position to aresting position directly above the table.

In another embodiment, a presentation supporting system of the inventionincludes a camera unit for taking an image of a material, a sample, oranother subject matter placed on a table. Image signals representing theimage of the subject matter taken by the camera unit are transmitted toan external display unit for showing a reproduction image of the subjectmatter. The presentation supporting system further includes apresentation condition adjustment unit for adjusting a presentationcondition for the subject matter, a memory unit for storing thepresentation condition adjusted by the presentation condition adjustmentunit when a predetermined first condition is fulfilled, and apresentation condition recovery unit for resuming the presentationcondition stored in the memory unit when a predetermined secondcondition different from the predetermined first condition is fulfilled.

In the presentation supporting system of the invention thus constructed,the presentation condition adjusted by the presentation conditionadjustment unit is stored in the memory unit when a predetermined firstcondition is fulfilled, for example, when a power source is turned off,when a memory switch is pressed on, or when a process of adjusting thepresentation condition is implemented. The presentation conditionrecovery unit resumes the presentation condition stored in the memoryunit when a predetermined second condition different from thepredetermined first condition is fulfilled, for example, immediatelyafter the power source is turned on or when a recovery switch is pressedon. This structure allows the desired presentation condition to beeasily recovered according to the requirements.

In still another application, a presentation supporting system of theinvention having a camera unit for taking a visual image of a material,a sample, or another subject matter placed on a table wherein an imagesignal representing the visual image of the subject matter taken by thecamera unit is transmitted to an external display unit for showing areproduction image of the subject matter, includes a presentationcondition adjustment unit for adjusting a presentation condition for thesubject matter, a memory unit for storing a plurality of presentationconditions adjusted by the presentation condition adjustment unit, apresentation condition selection unit for selecting one of the pluralityof presentation conditions stored in the memory unit, and a presentationcondition setting unit for setting the presentation condition selectedby the presentation condition selection unit in the presentationsupporting system.

In the presentation supporting system of the embodiment thusconstructed, the presentation condition adjustment unit adjusts apresentation condition for the material placed on the table while thememory unit stores a plurality of presentation conditions thus adjusted.The presentation condition selection unit selects one presentationcondition out of the plurality of conditions stored in the memory unit.The presentation condition setting unit sets the selected presentationcondition in the presentation supporting system. The presentationcondition suitable for the subject matter is easily set by selectingonly one presentation condition out of the plurality of conditionsadjusted previously.

The present invention is also directed to a controller device used for apresentation supporting system for taking a visual image of a material,a sample, or another subject matter placed on a table and outputting animage signal representing the visual image of the subject matter to anexternal display unit to show a reproduction image of the subjectmatter. The controller device includes a memory unit for storing aplurality of presentation conditions for showing the reproduction imageof the subject matter sent from the presentation supporting system; apresentation condition selection unit for selecting a presentationcondition out of the plurality of presentation conditions stored in thememory unit, and a presentation condition control unit for controllingthe presentation supporting system based on the presentation conditionselected by the presentation condition selection unit.

The controller device of the invention is connected to the presentationsupporting system to store a plurality of presentation conditions in thememory unit, select a desirable one out of the plurality of conditionswith the presentation condition selection unit, and set the presentationsupporting system in the desirable condition with the presentationcondition control unit.

These and other objects, features, aspects, and advantages of thepresent invention will become more apparent from the following detaileddescription of the preferred embodiment with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a presentation supportingsystem 10 embodying the invention with an external controller 400;

FIG. 2 shows an exemplified structure of a camera head unit 14incorporated in the presentation supporting system 10 of the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a decomposed perspective view showing a connecting structureof a camera supporting base member 16 with a camera supporting am member18 in the presentation supporting system 10 of the embodiment;

FIG. 4 illustrates a joint of the camera supporting arm member 18 withthe camera supporting base member 16 under a service condition and anon-service condition of the presentation supporting system 10;

FIG. 5 is a side view showing the camera supporting arm member 18 andthe camera head unit 14 under a service condition and a non-servicecondition of the presentation supporting system 10;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a cushioning member 49 used in anon-service condition of the presentation supporting system 10;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the presentation supportingsystem 10 with the camera supporting arm member 18 folded and held withthe cushioning member 49 for protecting a video camera 20;

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view showing a typical example ofmodification in the connecting structure of the camera supporting armmember 18 with the camera supporting base member 16;

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing details of a front operation panel 28 ofthe presentation supporting system 10;

FIG. 10 is a front view showing details of a control panel 29 of thepresentation supporting system 10;

FIG. 11 is a rear view showing details of a rear panel 150 of thepresentation supporting system 10;

FIG. 12 shows a typical example of a system communication with thepresentation supporting system 10;

FIG. 13 is a block diagram schematically showing an electric structureof the presentation supporting system 10;

FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating an internal structure of acontrol circuit 300;

FIG. 15 shows a memory map of the control circuit 300;

FIG. 16 shows an I/O map of the control circuit 300;

FIG. 17 shows allocation and bit assignment of a first I/O port 311;

FIG. 18 shows bit assignment at an address 0102(H) of the first I/O port311;

FIG. 19 shows allocation and bit assignment of a second I/O port 312;

FIG. 20 shows allocation and bit assignment of a third I/O port 313;

FIG. 21 shows allocation and bit assignment of a fourth I/O port 314;

FIG. 22 is a block diagram schematically showing an electric structureof the external controller 400;

FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing a key setting process routine executed bythe control circuit 300;

FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing a start-up process routine executed bythe control circuit 300;

FIG. 25 is a flowchart schematically showing a process executed by a CPU450 of the external controller 400;

FIG. 26 shows a main menu displayed on a screen 410 at the start-up ofthe external controller 400;

FIGS. 27A and 27B are flowcharts showing a data input routine executedby the CPU 450 of the external controller 400;

FIG. 28 shows a memory menu G1 displayed on the screen 410;

FIG. 29 shows a mode selector menu G2 displayed on the screen 410;

FIG. 30 shows a presentation sequence input menu G3 displayed on thescreen 410;

FIG. 31 shows a presentation time input menu G4 displayed on the screen410;

FIG. 32 shows a list G5 of the current presentation sequence, conditionsand time periods displayed on the screen 410;

FIGS. 33A through 33C are flowcharts showing a presentation routineexecuted by the CPU 450 of the external controller 400;

FIG. 34 shows a presentation mode selector menu T1 displayed on thescreen 410;

FIG. 35 shows a presentation condition selector menu T2 displayed on thescreen 410;

FIG. 36 shows a list T3 of the current presentation conditions displayedon the screen 410;

FIG. 37 shows a menu T4 for changing presentation conditions displayedon the screen 410; and

FIG. 38 shows a list T5 of the current presentation conditions and timedisplayed on the screen 410.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The structures and features of the invention will be described more indetail based on a preferred embodiment of the invention withaccompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating apresentation supporting system 10 of a first embodiment under operatingconditions.

As clearly seen in FIG. 1, the presentation supporting system 10includes a table 12 on which a subject matter is placed, a camera headunit 14 for taking a visual image of the subject matter, a camerasupporting base member 16 projecting upright from a rear side of thetable 12, and a folding camera supporting arm member 18 to which thecamera head unit 14 is fixed. Under a service condition, the foldingcamera supporting arm member 18 is stretched upward and securely fixedto the camera supporting base member 16 with a fixation screw 19.

In the presentation supporting system 10 under operating conditions, thecamera head unit 14 is held at a certain camera position above the table12 by the camera supporting base member 16 and the camera supporting armmember 18, so that a lens of a video camera 20 is directed to a shootingposition on a top face of the table 12. While the camera head unit 14 isheld at the certain camera position, the video camera 20 takes a visualimage of any of a variety of materials, including two-dimensionalobjects such as prints and negative films and three-dimensional objectsand models, placed on the table 12. In this embodiment, the size of thetable 12 is 630 mm×460 mm. When the camera head unit 14 is held in suchan operating position, a height H of the presentation supporting system10, that is, a distance from the table 12 to a top of the camera headunit 14, is 740 mm (see FIG. 5).

The presentation supporting system 10 further includes two auxiliarylighting units 22 disposed on both sides of the camera supporting basemember 16 for lighting the subject matter placed on the table 12. Theauxiliary lighting units 22 function as a reflected light source withrespect to the subject matter placed on the table 12. The auxiliarylighting units 22 are fixed to a rear portion of the table 12 via a pairof holding arms 24 to allow a pivotal movement of each auxiliarylighting units 22 within a pivotable range of 30 degrees from each sideface of the camera supporting base member 16. The auxiliary lightingunits 22 can be maintained at any desirable lighting position within thepivotable range.

The presentation supporting system 10 is also provided with atransmitted light source (not shown) on an approximate center of thetable 12 to take an image of a negative film with the transmitted light.The transmitted light source is disposed below a light diffusing panel26 having an upper face which is located on a plane horizontallyextending from an upper face of the table 12. The presentationsupporting system 10 further includes a front operation panel 28 havinga variety of control buttons generally used in projection of the subjectmatter and a control panel 29 having a variety of control knobs andbuttons used for fine adjustment of the color balance, control of thewhite balance, gain, negative/positive conversion and the like. Thefront operation panel 28 frequently used for adjustment is located on aninclined front face of the table 12 for convenience of operation. Thecontrol panel 29 having controls for adjusting the white balance, gain,color balance, hue, and the like is not used frequently in projection ofthe subject matter and thereby disposed in a recess of the camerasupporting base member 16 which is generally closed with a front cover30. A power switch 32 and a microphone terminal 34 are mounted on arecess of a left side of the table 12.

The presentation supporting system 10 is connected to an externalcontroller 400 via a communication cable 402. The external controller400 includes a screen 410 functioning as a normal liquid-crystal displayand a touch panel for data input, a ten-key pad 420 for numerical datainput, a power switch 430 for turning the controller 400 on and off, anda power indicator 432 which is lit when the power switch 430 is ON. Thestructure of the external controller 400 will be described in moredetail below.

As shown in FIG. 2, the video camera 20 built in the camera head unit 14includes a camera body 20a and a lens unit 20b which are fixed to aholding member 14a of the camera head unit 14 via an arm member 20c. Theholding member 14a has a first camera direction adjusting motor (notshown) which rotatably moves the video camera 20 leftward and rightwardwith respect to the table 12. The arm member 20c includes a secondcamera direction adjusting motor (not shown) which rotatably moves thecamera body 20a together with a fixation member 20d used for fixing thecamera body 20a forward and backward with respect to the table 12. Withthe first and second camera direction adjusting motors, the video camera20 is adequately directed to the subject matter placed at a desiredposition on the table 12.

Fixation of the camera supporting arm member 18 to the camera supportingbase member 16 with the fixation screw 19 is described more in detail.

FIG. 3 is a decomposed perspective view illustrating a connectingstructure of the camera supporting base member 16 with the camerasupporting arm member 18. In the drawing of FIG. 4, the solid lines showconnection of the camera supporting arm member 18 with the camerasupporting base member 16 under a service condition of the presentationsupporting system 10 whereas the two-dotted chain lines show connectionof the same under a non-service condition or resting condition of thepresentation supporting system 10. FIG. 5 is a side view illustratingthe camera supporting arm member 18 and the camera head unit 14 underthe service condition and the non-service condition of the presentationsupporting system 10.

As clearly seen in FIG. 3, a pair of shaft support members 16a aredisposed separately on both ends of a top face of the camera supportingbase member 16. Each shaft support member 16a has a shaft hole 16b inwhich an arm support pin 36 is fitted. The camera supporting base member16 also has a first screw hole 16c formed on a front face thereof tohave a diameter greater than a thread diameter of the fixation screw 19.

The camera supporting arm member 18 has, on a lower end thereof, a shaftmember 18a having a width received between the pair of shaft supportmembers 16a of the camera supporting base member 16. A fixation piece 38having a tapped hole 37 for receiving a threaded portion of the fixationscrew 19 is projected downward from the shaft member 18a. The shaftmember 18a has a pair of circular pin receiving elements 40 disposed onboth ends of the shaft member 18a, and a pair of pin holding projections41 extending backward from the pin receiving ring elements 40. In eachpin receiving element 40 disposed on either side of the shaft member18a, a bush hole 40a for receiving a resin flange bush 42 and a spotface 40b for receiving a flange 42a of the bush 42 are disposedconcentrically. The spot face 40b has a depth greater than a thicknessof the flange 42a of the bush 42. When the bush 42 is fitted into thebush hole 40a, the flange 42a of the bush 42 does not protrude from anend face of the pin receiving element 40 but is sufficiently received inthe pin receiving element 40. Each bush 42 has a through hole 42c inwhich the arm support pin 36 is fitted.

The pin receiving element 40 and the pin holding projection 41 have afirst common slit 40c formed with a metal saw while the bush 42 has asecond slit 42b formed in an axial direction. The pair of bushes 42 areinserted in and fixed to the both ends of the shaft member 18a in thefollowing manner. First, each bush 42 is fitted into the bush hole 40aof the pin receiving element 40 in such a manner that the first commonslit 40c and the second slit 42b overlap each other. A hexagon sockethead cap bolt 43 is then inserted in a drill hole 41a formed in each pinholding projection 41 via a plain washer 44 and clamped with a hexagonnut (not shown). By adjusting the clamping force of the hexagon sockethead cap bolts 43, a distance between the first common slit 40c of thepin receiving element 40 and the pin holding projection 41 and thesecond slit 42b of the bush 42. Adjustment of the slit distance with thehexagon socket head cap bolts 43 will be described later.

A bracket 45 for fixing the camera supporting arm member 18 with thecamera head-unit 14 mounted thereon under a non-service condition of thepresentation supporting system 10 is securely attached to the camerasupporting base member 16. The bracket 45 includes a top plate 45bhaving a second screw hole 45a formed therein to have a diameteridentical with that of the first screw hole 16c formed on the front faceof the camera supporting base member 16. Three sides of the top plate45b are surrounded by two side plates 45c and a rear plate 45d. A firstfixing projection 45e functioning as an attachment to the camera holdingbase member 16 extends from each side plate 45c of the bracket 45. Asecond fixing projection 45f functioning as an attachment to a rearpanel cover (not shown) of the camera supporting base member 16 extendsfrom the rear plate 45d (see FIG. 4).

The bracket 45 is attached to the camera supporting base member 16 inthe following manner. Hexagon socket head cap bolts 46 are inserted inapertures 45g respectively formed in the first fixing projections 45e ofthe side plates 45c and the second fixing projection 45f of the rearplate 45d via plane washers 47. The bracket is fixed to the camerasupporting base member 16 by clamping the hexagon socket head cap bolts46 in tapped holes formed in the camera supporting base member 16 andthe rear panel cover.

Attachment of the camera supporting arm member 18 to the camerasupporting base member 16 is described according to FIGS. 3 and 4. Asseen in FIG. 3, the pair of bushes 42 are fitted into the bush holes 40aformed on both ends of the shaft member 18a of the camera supporting armmember 18 in such a manner that the first common slit 40c of the pinreceiving element 40 and the pin holding projection 41 and the secondslit 42b of the bush overlap with each other. The hexagon socket headcap bolt 43 is inserted into the drill hole 41a of each pin holdingprojection 41 and tentatively clamped with the hexagon nut.

The shaft member 18a with the bushes 42 fitted in the both ends thereofis held between the shaft support members 16a of the camera supportingbase member 16. The arm support pin 36 is inserted into the first shafthole 16b of the first shaft support member 16a and pressed into thesecond shaft hole 16b of the second shaft support member 16a. The armsupport pin 36 thereby goes through the first shaft hole 16b, thethrough holes 42c of the bushes 42 mounted on both ends of the shaftmember 18a, and the second shaft hole 16b and is held in the first andsecond shaft holes 16b, 16b of the first and second shaft supportmembers 16a, 16a. The arm support pin 36 is fixed to the first andsecond shaft support members 16a, 16a on its smaller-diametral portionsby clamping hexagon socket head cap setscrews 48 into tapped holes (notshown) formed on the first and second shaft support members 16a, 16a.The camera supporting arm member 18 is accordingly coupled with thecamera supporting base member 16 to be pivotably movable around the armsupport pin 36.

The clamping force of the bushes 42 fitted in the pin receiving elements40 of the shaft member 18a with respect to the arm support pin 36 iscontrolled by adjusting the hexagon socket head cap bolts 43 inserted inthe pin holding projections 41. As described above, the distance betweenthe first common slit 40c of the pin receiving element 40 and the pinholding projection 41 and the second slit 42b of the bush 42 is adjustedby varying the clamping force of the hexagon socket head cap bolt 43.When the clamping force of the hexagon socket head cap bolt 43increases, the distance between the first slit 40c and the second slit42b is shortened, so that the arm support pin 36 is clamped securelywith the resin bushes 42.

When the camera supporting arm member 18 is joined with the camerasupporting base member 16 as described above, the clamping force of thehexagon socket head cap bolts 43 is adjusted to prevent the camerasupporting arm member 18 from undesirably rotating due to dead weight ofthe camera head unit 14. In other words, the camera supporting armmember 18 can be pivotally moved around the arm support pin 36 withrespect to the camera supporting base member 16 to be folded down onlyby manually pressing the camera head unit 14. When the operator holdsand lifts up the camera head unit 14, the camera supporting arm member18 is reversely rotated to move from the folded position to a normalworking position.

The camera supporting arm member 18 is folded and unfolded respectivelyin a non-service condition and a service condition of the presentationsupporting system 10. As shown in FIG. 1, when the presentationsupporting system 10 is under the service condition, the camerasupporting arm member 18 is stretched to the working position on thecamera supporting base member 16. In this state, the fixation screw 19is inserted through the first screw hole 16c of the camera supportingbase member 16 to be clamped in the tapped hole 37 formed in thefixation piece 38 of the camera supporting arm member 18 as shown by thesolid lines in FIG. 4. The camera supporting arm member 18 is fixed tothe camera supporting base member 16 in a selected orientation shown bythe solid lines in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 in order to direct the lens of thevideo camera 20 built in the camera head unit 14 to a shooting positionon the table 12.

Under a non-service condition of the presentation supporting system 10,the camera supporting arm member 18 is folded according to the followingprocess. First, the fixation screw 19 clamped in the tapped hole 37 isloosened and released. Second, the camera supporting arm member 18 isrotated around the arm support pin 36 towards the table 12 by manuallypressing down the camera head unit 14. More particularly, the camerasupporting arm member 18 is pivotally moved until a rear face of thefixation piece 38 of the camera supporting arm member 18 is brought intocontact with a bottom face of the top plate 45b of the bracket 45 asshown by the two-dotted chain lines in FIG. 4. The fixation bolt 19 isthen inserted into the second screw hole 45a of the top plate 45b to beclamped in the tapped hole 37 of the fixation piece 38.

As shown by the two-dotted chain lines in FIG. 5, the camera supportingarm member 18 is rotated around the arm support pin 36 with respect tothe camera supporting base member 16 to be folded down until the camerahead unit 14 sufficiently approaches the top face of the table 12. Thecamera supporting arm member 18 is fixed at this resting position withthe fixation screw 19.

A height h of the presentation supporting system 10 under thenon-service condition that the camera supporting arm member 18 ispivotally moved and folded down is 380 mm, which is approximately halfthe height H (740 mm) of the presentation supporting system 10 under theservice condition that the camera supporting arm member 18 is stretchedto the working position.

A cushioning member 49 composed of a foamed material shown in FIG. 6 isused in the non-service condition of the presentation supporting system10 where the camera supporting arm member 18 is folded. The cushioningmember 49 includes a first recess 49a having a predetermined shapecorresponding to the contour of the camera-head unit 14 to receive thecamera head unit 14 therein. The cushioning member 49 has a secondrecess 49b for receiving the video camera 20 while the first recess 49areceives the camera head unit 14. The cushioning member 49 is attachedfrom a direction shown by the arrow of FIG. 6 or from an oppositedirection to receive the camera head unit 14 in the first recess 49a. Asshown in FIG. 7, the cushioning member 49 receiving the camera head unit14 is interposed between the camera head unit 14 and the table 12, forexample, in packing the presentation supporting system 10. When thecamera head unit 14 is received in the first recess 49a of thecushioning member 49 from the direction opposite to that shown by thearrow of FIG. 6, the video camera 20 is received in the second recess49b. Under the non-service condition of the presentation supportingsystem 10, the auxiliary lighting units 22 are pivotally moved to belocated adjacent to the camera supporting base member 16 via the holdingarms 24 as typically seen in FIG. 7.

As described above, in the presentation supporting system 10 of theembodiment, the video camera 20 is held at a predetermined cameraposition above the table in such a manner that the camera supporting armmember 18 with the video camera 20 mounted thereon via the camera headunit 14 is pivotally movable around the arm support pin 36 with respectto the camera supporting base member 16 uprightly fixed to the table 12.Under the non-service condition of the presentation supporting system10, the camera supporting arm member 18 is rotated around the armsupport pin 36 to be folded towards the table 12, and the video camera20 is moved from the predetermined camera position to the restingposition sufficiently close to and directly above the table 12.

The height of the presentation supporting system 10 is desirably loweredby rotating and folding the camera supporting arm member 18 towards thetable 12. The presentation supporting system 10 of the embodiment canaccordingly be packed or stored in a space-saving, compact manner undera non-service condition. The space required for packing the presentationsupporting system 10 is approximately two thirds of the same requiredfor a conventional presentation supporting system. This desirably savespackaging materials use in shipment and reduces labor required forpacking and shipment. Since the video camera 20 is positioned directlyabove the table 12, a packaging box is not required to have acomplicated shape as in a conventional presentation supporting system.The compact packaging of the presentation supporting system 10 in thesimple shape of the box improves the packing efficiency in a containerand reduces the shipment cost.

In the presentation supporting system 10 of the embodiment, the camerasupporting arm member 18 is joined with the camera supporting basemember 16 with an identical fixation screw 19 under both the servicecondition where the video camera 20 is located at the predeterminedcamera position above the table 12 or the non-service condition wherethe camera supporting arm member 18 is folded towards the table 12. Thiseffectively prevents the fixation screw 19, which is essential forfixation of the camera supporting arm member 18, from being lost byaccident.

Under the non-service condition of the presentation supporting system 10where the camera supporting arm member 18 is folded down, the camerahead unit 14 is received in the cushioning member 49 composed of afoamed material. The cushioning member 49 is interposed between thetable 12 and the camera head unit 14 when the head unit 14 is moved tothe resting position directly above the table 12 by folding the camerasupporting arm member 18. The cushioning member 49 effectively protectsthe video camera 20 built in the camera head unit 14 from being damaged.

In the structure of the presentation supporting system 10 of theembodiment, the clamping force of the bushes 42 fitted in the pinreceiving elements 40 of the shaft member 18a with respect to the armsupport pin 36 is controlled by adjusting the hexagon socket head capbolts 43 inserted in the pin holding projections 41. This effectivelyprevents the camera supporting arm member 18 from being undesirablyrotated due to the dead weight of the camera head unit 14, and joins thecamera supporting arm member 18 with the camera supporting base member16 to allow favorable rotation. This structure that the camerasupporting arm member 18 is pivotally moved only by manually pressingdown or lifting up the camera head unit 14, effectively prevents theoperator's hand from being accidentally caught between the camera headunit 14 and the table 12. This ensures safety in operation of thepresentation supporting system 10.

The connecting structure of the camera supporting arm member 18 with thecamera supporting base member 16 via the fixation screw 19 may bemodified or altered according to various requirements. FIG. 8 shows atypical example of such modification. In this modified example, thesecond shaft support member 16a of the camera supporting base member 16,the arm support pin 36 for pivotally connecting the camera supportingarm member 18, and the fixation screw 19 for fixing the camerasupporting arm member 18 have different structures that of thepresentation supporting system 10 described above. The other elementsincluding the pin receiving elements 40 and the pin holding projections41 of the camera supporting arm member 18 have the identical structuresand functions as those described above.

In the modified structure shown in FIG. 8, a second shaft support member350 has a width greater than that of the first shaft support member 16a,and includes a shaft hole 351 for receiving an arm support pin 360, arelief hole 352 for machining a tapped hole, and a tapped hole 353 forreceiving a fixation screw 192. The arm support pin 360 has a collet 364including a relief hole 361 formed on one end thereof, a tapered hole362, and a cross-shaped slit 363 formed by cutting the tapered hole 362.The fixation screw 192 has a tapered shaft 194 running through an innerface of the tapered hole 362 of the arm support pin 360 to spread theslit 363 of the collet 364, a threaded portion 196 fitted in the tappedhole 353, and a head portion 198.

In this structure, the camera supporting arm member 18 is attached tothe camera supporting base member 16 in the following manner. The armsupport pin 360 is inserted and fitted in the through holes 42c of thebushes 42, the first shaft hole 16b of the first shaft support member16a, and the shaft hole 351 of the second shaft support member 350. Thethreaded portion 196 of the fixation screw 192 is clamped in the tappedhole 353 while the tapered shaft 194 is fitted into the tapered hole 362of the collet 364 of the arm support pin 360. In this stage, the slit363 of the collet 364 is not spread but maintains an outer diameter ofthe collet 364 identical with a general outer diameter of the armsupport pin 360. The force of the bushes 42 fitted in the pin receivingelement 41 for clamping the arm support pin 360 via the hexagon sockethead cap bolts 43 (see FIG. 3) is adjusted to allow rotation of thecamera supporting arm member 18 only through manual pressing or lifting.

The fixation screw 192 is then fastened to move the tapered shaft 194forward along the inner face of the tapered hole 362 of the collet 364.The forward movement of the tapered shaft 194 spreads the slit 363 ofthe collet 364 to increase the force of the bushes 42 in the pinreceiving element 40 for clamping the arm support pin 360. In thismanner, the camera supporting arm member 18 is securely fixed to thecamera supporting base member 16 via the collet 364. When pivotalrotation of the camera supporting arm 18 is required, the fixation screw192 is loosened to move the tapered shaft 194 backward through thetapered hole 362 of the collet 364. The backward movement of the taperedshaft 194 returns the slit 363 to the original non-spread condition, anddecreases the force of the bushes 42 in the pin receiving elements 40for clamping the arm support pin 360 to the original adjustment via thehexagon socket head cap bolts 43. Fixation of the camera supporting armmember 18 via the collet 364 is thereby released.

In this modified structure, the camera supporting arm member 18 is fixedto the camera supporting base member 16 with the common fixation screw192, which is not removed under any condition and thereby not lost byaccident. The modified structure does not require the screw hole 16c ofthe camera supporting base member 16 or the bracket 45.

Another structure taking advantage of a ball-joint mechanism may also beapplicable to fold the camera supporting arm member 18.

The front operation panel 28 of the presentation supporting system 10 isdescribed in detail. The front operation panel 28 includes a number ofcontrol buttons and a number of LED (light emitting diode) indicatorsshowing the settings of the control buttons. As clearly seen in FIG. 9,the front operation panel 28 is divided into a plurality of operationalboxes; that is, `Power`, `Lighting`, `Input Selection`, `Microphone`,`Iris`, `Focus`, `Zoom`, and `Camera`. The left-most box `Power` has apower indicator 51 lit when the power switch 32 is turned ON.

The next box `Lighting` includes a lighting selector 53 for choosing onelight source between the auxiliary lighting units 22 and the transmittedlight source built in the table 12 (hereinafter referred to as the baselight unit), a first light indicator 55 which is lit when the base lightunit is selected, and a second light indicator 57 lit when the auxiliarylighting units 22 are selected. The `Input Selection` box includes aninput selector 61, a first input indicator 63 which is lit when the mainunit is selected for data input, a second input indicator 65 which islit when a first auxiliary unit is selected, and a third input indicator67 which is lit when a second auxiliary unit is selected. The inputselector 61 is operated to choose one of three video signals, that is,one internal video signal sent from the video camera 20 built in thepresentation supporting system 10 and two external video signals outputfrom two auxiliary units to the presentation supporting system 10.

The `Microphone` box has two control buttons for turning up and down thevolume of a microphone connected to the microphone terminal 34 disposedadjacent to the power switch 32: a microphone volume down control 71 anda second microphone volume up control 73. The presentation supportingsystem 10 is provided with a built-in amplifier for amplifying audiosignals from the microphone connected to the microphone terminal 34. Themicrophone volume in presentation with the presentation supportingsystem 10 is arbitrarily changed through control of the amplification inthe amplifier.

The `Iris` box includes an auto/manual iris selector 75 for settingeither an automatic iris adjustment mode or a manual iris adjustmentmode of the video camera 20, an iris out control 76 and an iris incontrol 77 both used under the manual iris adjustment conditions, anauto iris indicator 78 which is lit when the auto iris adjustment modeis set, and a manual iris indicator 79 which is lit when the manual irisadjustment mode is set. The brightness of a reproduction imagecorresponding to the subject matter on the table 12 is arbitrarilyadjusted through operation of these control buttons 75, 76, and 77.

The `Focus` box next to the `Iris` box has an auto focus button 81 forsetting an automatic focus adjustment mode of the video camera 20, amanual short focus control 82 for manually adjusting a focal positioncloser to the video camera 20, a manual long focus control 83 formanually adjusting the focal position distant from the video camera 20,an auto focus indicator 84 lit when the automatic focus adjustment modeis set, and a manual focus indicator 85 lit when a manual focusadjustment mode is set. The focal position with respect to the subjectmatter on the table 12 is arbitrarily adjusted through operation ofthese control buttons 81, 82, and 83. When the auto focus button 81 ispressed, a focus adjusting motor (not shown) disposed in the videocamera 20 is driven for automatic adjustment of the focal position andthen automatically stops to be in stand-by conditions after completionof the appropriate focus adjustment. This can effectively preventunnecessary focus adjustment when the subject matter is moved slightlyon the table 12 or an operator's hand moves across the video camera 20.

The `Zoom` box includes a zoom mode selector 86 for selecting a zoommode, a zoom up button 87 for zooming up the video camera 20 withrespect to the subject matter, a wide zoom button 88 for adjusting thevideo camera 20 to a wide angle, a zoom mode A indicator 91 lit when thezoom mode is set on a mode A, and a zoom mode B indicator 92 lit whenthe zoom mode is set on a mode B.

The zoom modes A and B represent different zoom ranges set for the zoomlens of the video camera 20. The zoom lens of the video camera 20 hastwo zoom ranges set corresponding to lens combinations to realize a widezoom angle. In the zoom mode A, a focal length f of the zoom lens in thevideo camera 20 ranges from 8.5 mm to 68 mm, and a shooting range isbetween 340×255 mm and 44.5×33.4 mm. In the zoom mode B, the focallength f ranges from 13 mm to 106 mm, and the shooting range is between211×158 mm and 28×21 mm.

The right-most box of the front operation panel 28, the `Camera` box hascamera direction control buttons for adjusting the direction of thevideo camera 20: a camera direction center control 93 for setting thedirection of the video camera 20 on a center of the table 12, a cameradirection forward control 94 for directing the video camera 20 to afront portion of the table 12 (on the side of the front operation panel28), a camera direction backward control 95 for directing the videocamera 20 to a rear portion of the table 12, a camera direction leftwardcontrol 96 for directing the video camera 20 to a left portion of thetable 12, and a camera direction rightward control 97 for directing thevideo camera 20 to a right portion of the table 12. The `Camera` boxalso includes a camera direction center indicator 98 lit when thedirection of the video camera 20 is set on the center of the table 12.The direction of the video camera 20 is arbitrarily set with respect tothe subject matter placed on the table 12 through operation of thecontrol buttons 94, 95, 96, and 97. When the camera direction centercontrol 93 is pressed, a camera direction adjusting motor (not shown) isdriven to forcibly direct the video camera 20 on the center of the table12.

Details of the control panel 29 are described according to FIG. 10.Although the control panel box 29 is generally closed with the frontcover 30, a number of LED indicators representing the settings ofcontrol buttons in the control panel box 29 are disposed above the frontcover 30, so that an operator can see the settings without opening thefront cover 30.

The LED indicators on the control panel 29 include an auto white balanceindicator 100 which is lit when an automatic white balance adjustmentmode is selected, a manual white balance indicator 101 which is lit whena manual white balance adjustment mode is selected, a negative indicator102 which is lit when a negative display mode is selected, a positiveindicator 103 which is lit when a positive display mode is selected, acolor indicator 104 which is lit when a color display mode is selected,and a B&W indicator 105 which is lit when a black and white display modeis selected. The control panel 29 is also provided with a gain 0indicator 106 which is lit when a video gain is set at 0 dB, a gain 9 dBindicator 107 which is lit when the video gain is set at +9 dB, a detailstress-on indicator 112 which is lit when a detail stress for clearlyshowing characters or image contours on the subject matter is set ON, adetail stress-off indicator 113 which is lit when the detail stress isset OFF, a color bar indicator 111 which is lit while color bar videosignals are output, a communication indicator 117 which is lit while thepresentation supporting system 10 continues communication with anexternal control device, and a key set indicator 121 which is lit whilesettings of the various control buttons are stored.

The control panel 29 includes control knobs for directly changingcircuit constants of a video/audio processing circuit (described later)and control buttons used for adjusting circuit constants of thevideo/audio processing circuit through a CPU of a control circuit(described later). A first color balance adjusting knob (red) 123 and asecond color balance adjusting knob (blue) 125 disposed on an upper leftcorner of the control panel 29, a hue control volume 127 and ahorizontal phase control volume 129 disposed on an upper right corner ofthe control panel 29, a pedestal control knob (for adjusting black invideo images) 131, and hue control ON/OFF switches 133, 135 are directlyconnected to the video/audio processing circuit. One revolution of thehue control volume 127 changes the hue by 90 degrees, and combination ofthe hue control volume 127 with the hue control ON/OFF switches 133, 135allows a hue adjustment of 360 degrees.

The control buttons arranged in alignment on a lower portion of thecontrol panel 29 are read by the CPU of the control circuit andeventually used for control of the video control circuit. The controlbuttons include the following:

(1) a white balance mode selector 140 for setting either an automaticwhite balance adjustment mode or a manual white balance adjustment mode;

(2) a nega/posi selector 141 for setting either a negative display modefor showing a reproduction image of a negative film taken by the videocamera 20 in negative or a positive display mode for showing thereproduction image in positive;

(3) a color/B&W selector 142 for choosing either a color display mode ora black and white display mode, for example, when a reproduction imageof a typewritten print is displayed;

(4) a gain selector 143 for changing the gain of the video camera 20between a standard 0 gain and a +9 dB gain for compensating forinsufficient lighting;

(5) a detail stress on/off button 145 for setting either a stress onmode for showing contours of characters or a stress off mode;

(6) a color bar on/off button 144 for outputting a standard color bar inplace of a visual image taken by the video camera in order to adjust atone of an externally connected monitor;

(7) a communication on/off button 147 for choosing either acommunication on mode in which the presentation supporting system 10 iscontrolled through RS-232C communication with an external control unitor personal computer or a communication off mode in which thepresentation supporting system 10 is controlled through operation ofcontrol buttons and knobs on the front operation panel 28 and thecontrol panel 29; and

(8) a key set button 146 for storing a variety of settings in thepresentation supporting system 10.

While the other control buttons are momentary, the key set button 146 isan alternative switch for mechanically storing a variety of data set bythe operator. When the key set button 146 is pressed ON at a certaintime point, a variety of conditions including selection of lighting,gain setting, and negative/positive conversion set in the presentationsupporting system 10 at the certain time point are stored while the keyset indicator 121 is lit to show that the settings are stored.

A rear panel 150 mounted on a rear face of the camera supporting basemember 16 of the presentation supporting system 10 is describedaccording to FIG. 11. The rear panel 150 is used for connecting avariety of audio/visual devices to the presentation supporting system 10as typically shown in FIG. 12. The rear panel 150 includes a remoteterminal 151 for connecting with a remote control unit 152, an RS-232Ccommunication terminal 153 for connecting with an RS-232C communicableunit such as a personal computer 154 or an external controller 400, abaud rate selection switch 155 for selecting a baud rate ofcommunication out of four choices, an auxiliary input unit 160 forconnecting with an external audio/visual device, an RGB output unit 170for dividing video signals into R (red), G (green), and B (blue)components and outputting the RGB components, an output unit 180 foroutputting standard video signals, an external synchronizing signalinput terminal 190 for inputting external synchronizing signals, a powercord receptacle 191 for receiving a commercial alternating currentcable, a fuse 193 for detecting an overload and automatically cuttingthe power off, and an outlet 197 for supplying the commercialalternating current to another device.

The auxiliary input unit 160 has a plurality of 2-channel inputterminals: two S video-in terminals 161, 162 for inputting SVHS signals,two video-in terminals for inputting standard video signals, andtwo-channel audio-in terminals 165L, 165R, 166L, and 166R for inputtingstereo sound. As typically shown in FIG. 12, these terminals of theauxiliary input unit 160 are connected to an SVHS video tape recorder(S-VTR) for outputting SVHS signals and audio signals, a standard videotape recorder (VTR) 202 for outputting standard video signals and audiosignals, a 16-mm film projector 204 for outputting video signals, and aslide projector 206 for outputting video signals.

The RGB output unit 170 has a plurality of terminals for outputtinghigh-quality RGB video images: an R output terminal 171, a G outputterminal 172, a B output terminal 173, and an SYNC terminal 175 foroutputting synchronizing signals. An SYNC (synchronizing signal)selection switch 177 disposed below the SYNC terminal 175 is turned ONwhen the presentation supporting system 10 is connected to an auxiliarysystem without an exclusive terminal for inputting synchronizingsignals. These terminals of the RGB output unit 170 are connected to avideo projector 210 and a large-screen monitor 212.

The output unit 180 has a plurality of terminals used for output ofstandard video signals: an S video-out terminal 181 for outputting SVHSvideo signals, a PIN type video-out terminal 183 for outputting standardvideo signals, a BNC type video-out terminal 185, 2-channel audio-outterminals 187L and 187R for outputting stereo sound. These terminals ofthe output unit 180 are connected to a standard video monitor 220 (ortelevision having a video-in terminal), a liquid-crystal monitor 222,and a speaker 224 with a built-in amplifier.

A microphone 230 is connected to the microphone terminal 34 (not shownin FIG. 12).

FIG. 13 is a block diagram schematically showing an electric structureof the presentation supporting system 10. As shown in FIG. 13, thepresentation supporting system 10 includes a video/audio processingcircuit 250 for executing required processes, for example, amplifyingvideo signals sent from the video camera 20 and audio signals outputfrom the microphone 230, and a control circuit 300 for receiving outputfrom the front operation panel 28 and the control panel 29 andcontrolling the video camera 20 and the video/audio processing circuit250.

As clearly seen in FIG. 13, all the control buttons on the frontoperation panel 28 and most controls on the control panel 29 areconnected to the control circuit 300 while the control knobs on thecontrol panel 29 including the hue control volume 127 as well as thevideo camera 20 and the microphone 230 are connected to the video/audioprocessing circuit 250. Input and output of video signals to and fromthe video/audio processing circuit 250 are connected to the rear panel150 via a selection circuit 270.

The video/audio processing circuit 250 executes a variety of processesincluding negative/positive conversion and detail stress-on processingthrough addition of differential signals for video signals output fromthe video camera 20 as well as control of the amplification for audiosignals output from the microphone 230. Details of a process to beexecuted are determined according to signals output from the controlcircuit 300. The zoom control, the iris control, and the cameradirection control are also executed through the video/audio processingcircuit 250. Detailed explanation of the video/audio processing circuit250 is omitted since it is not an essential point of the presentinvention.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating an internal structure of thecontrol circuit 300. As clearly seen in FIG. 14, the control circuit 300includes a conventional CPU (central processing unit) 301 with abuilt-in serial communication function, a PROM (programmable read onlymemory) 303 for storing programs previously input, a RAM (random accessmemory) 305 for inputting and outputting data arbitrarily, and an EEPROM(electronic erasable, programmable ROM) 307 for storing electronicerasable and non-volatile data. An address bus AB of the CPU 301 isconnected via a line driver 310 to the PROM 303, the RAM 305, firstthrough fourth I/O ports 311, 312, 313, and 314 for input to and outputfrom external devices, and a PAL (programmable array logic) 315 foraddress decoding. Each of the I/O ports 311, 312, 313, and 314 iscomposed of a chip having three 8-bit input/output ports set for eitherdata input or output. A C port of the first I/O port 311 is connected toa multiplexer 317 for increasing a bit capacity of the I/O port 311.Control signals L0, L1, and L2 for the multiplexer 317 occupy 3 bits ina B port of the second I/O port 312. Allocation of functions torespective bits of these I/O ports will be described below.

A data bus DB of the CPU 301 is connected to a two-way linedriver/receiver 320 to the PROM 303, the RAM 305, the EEPROM 307, andthe first through the fourth I/O ports 311 through 314. A control bus CBof the CPU 301 is connected to the PAL 330, which outputs memoryread/write signals and I/O read/write signals output from the CPU 301 tothe PROM 303, the RAM 305, and the first I/O port 311.

The CPU 301 is also connected to an oscillation circuit 332 forgenerating a clock, a reset circuit 334 for generating a reset signal inresponse to a power supply, a line driver/receiver circuit 336 forRS-232C communication, and the baud rate selection switch 155 describedabove.

FIG. 15 shows a memory map of the control circuit 300, and FIG. 16 showsan I/O map thereof. Although the CPU 301 has a capacity of processing amaximum of 1 mega-byte physical addresses as a memory space, the PROM303 actually installed in the embodiment occupies 32 kilo-byte includingan address area from 0000(H) to 07FFF(H) for storing programs. Aninternal RAM (512 byte) of the CPU 301 is located in an address areastarting from 0FE00(H) while the RAM (8 kilo-byte) 305 is installed inan address area starting from 8E000(H).

The CPU 301 also has a capacity of processing a maximum of 64 kilo-byteI/O space. As shown in FIG. 16, the EEPROM 307 actually installed in theI/O space occupies 512 byte starting from an address 8000(H). Acondition of the baud rate selection switch 155 (port G), a condition ofserial communication data CSI/O (port A), a built-in timer, a built-infree running counter, and the first through the fourth I/O ports 311,312, 313, and 314 are also allocated to the I/O space. In thedescription below concerning with the first through the fourth I/O ports311 through 314, I/O addresses may be simply referred to as addresses.

Each of the first through the fourth I/O ports 311 through 314 has three8-bit input/output ports, each port having an independent I/O address.Head addresses of the first through the fourth I/O ports 311, 312, 313,and 314 are respectively 0100(H) , 0200(H), 0300(H), and 0400(H) . Thethree input/output ports of each I/O port 311, 312, 313, or 314 arerespectively programmable to be set in either an input mode or an outputmode. Through a start-up process (described later) executed immediatelyafter a power supply, two ports at addresses of 0100(H) and 0101(H) areset for output whereas the last port at an address 0102(H) is set forinput in the first I/O port 311. The total of six ports in the secondI/O port 312 and the third I/O port 313 are all set for data input. Inthe forth I/O port 314, one port at an address of 0400(H) is set forinput while the other two ports at addresses of 0401(H) and 0402(H) areset for output. The first through the fourth I/O ports 311 through 314are connected to the front operation panel 28, the control panel 29, thevideo/audio processing circuit 250, and the selection circuit 270 viaconnectors (not shown).

FIGS. 17 through 21 are tables showing functions allocated to bits ineach port. In the tables, a symbol `N/C` represents that the bit is aspare bit not used currently. Functions of lighting the indicators onthe front operation panel 28 are allocated to bits in the output portsat the addresses 0100(H) and 0101(H) of the first I/O port 311. Theinput port at the address 0102(H) is extended by the multiplexer 317,which selectively outputs operating conditions of 24 (=8 bits×3) controlbuttons to the input port of the first I/O port 311 according to thecontrol signals L0, L1, and L2 assigned to bits 4 through 6 of theoutput port at an address of 0201(H) in the second I/O port 312. FIG. 18shows a relationship between the control signals L0, L1, and L2 andinput signals (expressed as the corresponding control buttons). Asclearly seen in FIG. 18, 16 bits correspond to the control buttons onthe front operation panel 28 whereas the other 8 bits correspond to thecontrol buttons on the control panel 29.

In the second I/O port 312 having three output ports, 8 bits at theaddress 0200(H) and bits 1, 2, 3, and 7 of the address 0201(H) are usedfor lighting the indicators on the control panel 29 as shown in FIG. 19.The bits 4, 5, and 6 of the address 0201(H) of the second I/O port 312are assigned to the control signals L0, L1, and L2 of the multiplexer317 as described previously. The CPU 301 successively selects one of thecontrol signals L0, L1, and L2 to read operating conditions of thecontrol buttons on the front operation panel 28 and the control panel29. The indicators are lit corresponding to the operating conditionsread by the CPU 301.

For example, when the white balance mode selector 140 is set in theautomatic white balance adjustment mode, the CPU 301 of the controlcircuit 300 reads the condition of the mode selector 140 via themultiplexer 317 and writes the value `1` into a bit 0 of the I/O address0200(H) to light the auto white balance indicator 100. When the whitebalance mode selector 140 is set in the manual white balance adjustmentmode, on the contrary, the CPU 301 writes the value `0` into the bit 0of the address 0200(H) and the value `1` into a bit 1 to light themanual white balance indicator 101 in place of the auto white balanceindicator 100. The other indicators are controlled by the CPU 301 in thesame manner as above.

Bits 2 through 7 of the output port at an address 0202(H) of the secondI/O port 312 are allocated to control outputs for the video/audioprocessing circuit 250. When these signals become active, thevideo/audio processing circuit 250 starts processing video signalsoutput from the video camera 20. For example, when the CPU 301 write thevalue `1` into a bit 2 of the address 0202(H) of the second I/O port312, the video/audio processing circuit 250 adds a differential signalto the video signal output from the video camera 20 at a predeterminedratio to output a stress-on signal for emphasizing details of areproduction image.

Bits 0 through 7 at an address 0300(H) of the third I/O port 313 andbits 0 through 5 at an address 0301(H) are allocated to control signalsfor lighting and the video camera 20 as shown in FIG. 20. The CPU 301writes specific data into these allocated bits to light the auxiliarylighting units 22 or the base light unit, adjust the zoom or focus ofthe video camera 20, turn the video camera 20 on or off, and adjust theiris of the video camera in a 6-bit range or 64 stages.

Bits 6 and 7 at an address 0301(H) of the third I/O port 313 areallocated to input selector signals B0 and B1 for the selection circuit270. The CPU 301 selects video signals in cooperation with the selectioncircuit 270 through on/off control of the input selector signals B0 andB1. Bits 0 through 5 at an address 0302(H) of the third I/O port 313 areassigned to data B0 through B5 for setting the microphone volume. TheCPU 301 writes selected data in these bits to vary the amplification ofan amplifier built in the video/audio processing circuit 250 in 64stages (6 bits) so as to vary the volume of the microphone 230 input viathe microphone terminal 34.

Bits 6 and 7 at the address 0302(H) of the third I/O port 313 are usedfor control outputs of the zoom mode. The CPU 301 exclusively writesdata in these bits to change the zoom mode of the video camera 20 from Ato B or vice versa.

Each port of the fourth I/O port 314 is set for directional control ofthe video camera 20 as shown in FIG. 21. Bits 1 through 5 at the address0400(H) set as an input port are allocated to data representingoperation of control buttons disposed on the right end of the frontoperation panel 28 for adjusting the direction of the video camera 20.Respective bits 2 through 7 of the output ports at the addresses 0401(H)and 0402(H) are assigned to data B0 through B5 for setting thefront-rear direction of the video camera 20 and data B0 through B5 forsetting the left-right direction of the video camera 20. The CPU 301writes selected data in these bits to drive the camera directionadjusting motor to set the video camera 20 at an appropriate positionselected out of 64 stages in both the front-rear direction and theleft-right direction.

A bit 0 at the address 0401(H) is allocated to light the cameradirection center indicator 98, and a bit 1 to a control signal forsetting the front-rear direction of the video camera 20 on a center.When the bit 1 is set ON, the CPU 301 writes selected data into bits 2through 7 of the address 0401(H) to drive the camera direction adjustingmotor to set the front-rear direction of the video camera 20 on itscenter. A bit 1 at the address 0402(H) is, on the other hand, assignedto a control signal for setting the left-right direction of the videocamera 20 on a center. When this bit 1 is set ON, the CPU 301 writesselected data into bits 2 through 7 of the address 0402(H) to drive thecamera direction adjusting motor to set the left-right direction of thevideo camera 20 on its center. In actual operation, when the cameradirection center control 93 is pressed, both the bit 1 of the address0401(H) and the bit 1 of the address 0402(H) are set ON, and the CPU 301writes selected data into the bits 2 through 7 of the address 0401(H)and the bits 2 through 7 of the address 0402(H) to set the direction ofthe video camera 20 on the center.

In the presentation supporting system 10 thus constructed, desiredpresentation conditions are set for the material placed on the table 12through operation of the control buttons on the front operation panel 28and the control panel 29. Image data signals representing the materialare then output to a variety of devices connected to the RGB output unit170 or the output unit 180 of the rear panel 150. Details of thisprocedure are not essential for the present invention and therebyomitted herein.

FIG. 22 is a block diagram schematically showing an electric structureof the external controller 400 connected to the communication terminal153 of the rear panel 150 via the communication cable 402. As shown inFIG. 22, the external controller 400 includes a conventional CPU 450with a built-in serial communication function, a ROM 452 for storingprograms previously input, a RAM 454 used for reading and writing data,a liquid-crystal panel interface 458 for controlling a liquid crystalpanel 412 of the screen 410, a touch panel interface 460 for controllingdata input with a touch panel 414 of the screen 410, and a key inputinterface 462 for controlling data input with the ten-key pad 420. Theseelements of the external controller 400 are connected to one another viaa bus 570.

A line driver/receiver circuit 480 for RS-232C communication isconnected to the CPU 450. The external controller 400 receives andoutputs data from and to the CPU 301 via the line driver/receiver 480and the line driver/receiver circuit 336 of the presentation supportingsystem 10. The CPU 450 is also connected to an oscillation circuit (notshown) for generating a clock, a reset circuit (not shown) forgenerating a reset signal in response to a power supply.

Processes essential for the present invention executed by the CPU 301are described according to the flowcharts of FIGS. 23 and 24. FIG. 23 isa flowchart showing a key setting process routine when the key setbutton 146 is depressed, and FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing a start-upprocess routine executed on a power supply to the presentationsupporting system 10.

As described previously, the key set button 146 is the only alternativeswitch on the control panel 29 to be set alternatively ON and OFF byeach activation of the button 146. When the key set button 146 ispressed ON, the program enters the key setting process routine shown inFIG. 23. At step S400 the CPU 301 reads settings of the control buttonson the front operation panel 28 and the control panel 29. Since thesetting of each control button is stored in a predetermined area of theRAM 305 every time when the control button is operated, the CPU 301reads data representing the key settings out of the RAM 305.

At step S410, the CPU 301 stores the settings read at step S400 into apredetermined area of the EEPROM 307. Check sum data of these keysettings is preferably written at a predetermined address of the EEPROM307 together with each key setting. This enhances the reliability of thekey set data. The program then enters step S420 at which the CPU 301writes the value `1` into the bit 1 of the address 0100(H) of the firstI/O port 311 to light the key set indicator 121. After execution of stepS420, the program goes to `NEXT` to exit from the routine.

In the routine of FIG. 23, data stored in the RAM 305 are concerned withselection of either the auxiliary lighting units 22 or the base lightunit, selection of key input, the microphone volume, the iris opening,the zoom mode, selection of either the automatic white balanceadjustment mode or the manual white balance adjustment mode, selectionof either the color display mode or the black and white display mode,selection of the gain, output of the color bar, and on/off control ofthe detail stress. Although the structure of the embodiment can notstore the exact zoom angle or focus since a DC motor without a functionfor detecting a driving amount is used for adjustment of the zoom andfocus of the video camera 20, a stepping motor or an encoder fordetecting a driving amount may be used in place of the DC motor to storethe focus and zoom conditions.

When the power is supplied to the presentation supporting system 10, theprogram enters the start-up process routine shown in FIG. 24. At stepS440, an initialization process is executed, which includes setting ofthe input and output ports in the I/O ports 311 through 313 andinitialization of an internal register of the CPU 301.

At step S450, the CPU 301 directly reads the on/off condition of thealternative key set button 146. The program then proceeds to step S460at which it is determined whether the key set button 146 is ON or OFF.When the key set button 146 is set ON, the program goes to step S470 atwhich the CPU 301 reads out data of the key settings stored in thepredetermined area of the EEPROM 307. When the check sum data is storedtogether with key settings, the CPU 301 compares the check sum data witha total of actual key settings data to determine that the data stored inthe predetermined area of the EEPROM 307 are correct.

When the key set button 146 is set OFF, on the other hand, the programproceeds to step S475 at which the CPU 301 reads out default valuesstored in the RAM 305. Under the OFF state of the key set button 146,conditions during the shipment should be selected. After execution ofstep S470 or S475, the program goes to step S480 at which data of thekey settings or default values are set in the video/audio processingcircuit 250 and the selection circuit 270. Through the start-up processroutine, data of the key settings are reproduced on the presentationsupporting system 10 when the key set button 146 is set ON whereas thedefault values set on the shipment are reproduced on the presentationsupporting system 10 when the key set button 146 is set OFF.

The program then proceeds to step S490 at which the CPU 301 outputsselected data to the first through third I/O ports 311 through 313 so asto light the corresponding indicators. After execution of step S490, theprogram goes to `NEXT` to exit from the routine.

As described above, in the presentation supporting system 10 of theembodiment, data representing a variety of settings including selectionof either the auxiliary lighting units 22 or the base light unit,selection of input signals, and the microphone volume are stored inresponse to a press-ON of the key set button 146. Any specific settingsor optimal settings through operation of the front operation panel 28and the control panel 29 are recovered on every power supply. Thisstructure allows the specific or optimal settings of the presentationsupporting system 10 to be recovered without any trouble even when aplurality of operators use the presentation supporting system 10, thussignificantly improving efficiency of presentation.

Since the key set indicator 121 is lit while the settings of the controlbuttons are stored in response to a press-ON of the key set button 146,the operator can easily check that the settings are stored. A group ofsettings once stored can be changed through operation of the controlbuttons on the front operation panel 28 and the control panel 29. A newgroup of settings after required change can be stored by pressing OFFthe key set button 146 and again pressing ON the key set button 146. Thekey set indicator 121 lights up, goes out, and again lights upcorresponding to operation of the key set button 146, and the operatorcan thus readily check the storing conditions of the key settings. Inthe structure of the embodiment, the settings of the control buttons arestored in the EEPROM 307. This allows the settings to be accuratelyreproduced even when the power is supplied to the presentationsupporting system 10 after a relatively long interval.

The key set button 146 constructed as an alternative switch has thefollowing advantages. When the key set button 146 is formed as amomentary switch, the operating condition of the key set button 146should also be stored in the EEPROM 307. In such a case that theoperating condition of the key set button 146 can not be renewed due toabnormality in the EEPROM 307, previous settings input prior tooccurrence of the abnormality are undesirably reproduced on every powersupply. On the other hand, under an abnormal condition of the EEPROM307, the key set button 146 formed to be an alternative switch ispressed OFF to cancel the previous settings input prior to occurrence ofthe abnormality.

There may be many modifications and changes in the structure of theabove embodiment without departing from the spirit of the presentinvention. Typical examples of such modification include a structure forstoring key settings in a flash ROM or a battery back-up RAM in place ofthe EEPROM 307, a structure having a key set recovery button forchanging the key settings to conditions previously stored as well as thekey set button 146, a structure for storing the operating conditions ofthe control buttons on the front operation panel 28 and the controlpanel 29 into the EEPROM 307 on every operation of these controlbuttons, a structure for storing the key settings into the EEPROM 307when the power is turned OFF, a structure having a larger capacity ofthe EEPROM 307 to store plural groups of key settings, and a structureincluding a device for reading and writing data from and into anexternal memory medium, for example, a magnetic card, to store the keysettings into the external memory medium, which are recovered or changedin response to insertion of the external memory medium.

Operation of the external controller 400 and the presentation supportingsystem 10 is described according to the flowchart of FIG. 25schematically showing a process executed by the external controller 400.When the power switch 430 of the external controller 400 is turned ON, amain menu MG typically shown in FIG. 26 is displayed on the screen 410at step S500. According to an operator's selection of either a `DataInput` mode or a `Presentation` mode on the main menu MG, the programproceeds to either step S510 for a data input routine or step S520 for apresentation routine. Details of the data input routine are shown in theflowcharts of FIGS. 27A and 27B while details of the presentationroutine are shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 33A through 33C. Theoperator selects either the `Data Input` mode or the `Presentation` modeby touching a `Data Input` box or a `Presentation` box displayed on thescreen 410. When the operator touches the screen 410, the CPU 450recognizes the position on the screen 410 as data in X and Y directionson the touch panel 414 via the touch panel interface 460. Afterexecution of the process in the selected mode, `Data Input` or`Presentation`, the program returns to step S500 to display the mainmenu MG again on the screen 410 to wait for next selection of the mode.

When the `Data Input` mode is selected on the main menu MG at step S500of FIG. 25, the program enters the data input routine of FIGS. 27A and27B. At step S600 in the flowchart of FIG. 27A, the CPU 450 reads apresentation condition number, which is given to every set ofpresentation conditions stored. The presentation condition number isinitialized to one at a predetermined address of the RAM 454 by aninitialization routine (not shown) executed immediately after apower-ON. The presentation condition number is written at apredetermined address of the RAM 454 when an `End` box is selected on amemory menu G1 described below.

The program then proceeds to step S610 at which the memory menu G1typically shown in FIG. 28 is displayed on the screen 410. The memorymenu G1 includes a `Store` box and the `End` box as well as apresentation condition number. The memory menu G1 continues on thescreen 410 until either the `Store` box or the `End` box is selected atstep S630. While the memory menu G1 is on the screen 410, the operatordetermines desirable presentation conditions through operation of thecontrol buttons on the front operation panel 28 and the control panel 29of the presentation supporting system 10 at step S620. When the operatortouches the `Store` box on the screen 410 at step S630 afterdetermination of the desirable presentation conditions in thepresentation supporting system 10, the program goes to step S640 atwhich the CPU 450 outputs a signal for requiring transmission of datarepresenting the current presentation conditions of the presentationsupporting system 10, to the CPU 301 of the presentation supportingsystem 10 via the line driver/receiver circuit 480 of the externalcontroller 400 and the line driver/receiver circuit 336 of thepresentation supporting system 10, and receives data of the currentpresentation conditions of the presentation supporting system 10transmitted from the CPU 301 in response to the signal.

At step S650, the CPU 450 writes the received data of the presentationconditions at a certain address of the RAM 454 determined according tothe presentation condition number. The program then goes to step S660 atwhich the presentation condition number is incremented by one, andreturns to step S610 to display the memory menu G1 again. Plural sets ofpresentation conditions are stored in the RAM 454 by repeatedlyexecuting steps S610 through S660. Although the presentation conditionnumber is incremented by one every time when each set of presentationconditions are stored in the structure of the embodiment, thepresentation condition number may be input on the memory menu G1 fromthe ten-key pad 420.

When the `End` box is selected on the memory menu G1 at step S630, theprogram goes to step S670 of FIG. 27B at which the CPU 450 writes thepresentation condition number at a predetermined address of the RAM 454.The program then proceeds to step S680 at which a mode selector menu G2typically shown in FIG. 29 is displayed on the screen 410. The modeselector menu G2 includes a `Presentation Sequence` box for setting apresentation sequence of plural sets of presentation conditions, a`Presentation Time` box for setting a plurality of time periods forpresentation when a certain material is shown under a selected set ofpresentation conditions, and an `End` box to be selected when no furtherdata input is required for the presentation sequence or presentationtime.

When the `Presentation Sequence` box is selected at step S690, theprogram goes to step S700 at which a presentation sequence input menu G3typically shown in FIG. 30 is displayed on the screen 410 and to stepS710 at which a presentation sequence is input. The presentationsequence input menu G3 is divided into an upper section and a lowersection. In the lower section, plural sets of presentation conditionsstored as described previously are shown in the order of thepresentation condition numbers. Each set of presentation conditionsinclude the type of the material (negative or positive), the size of thematerial, and the zoom view angle. Numbers in the presentation sequencewith the corresponding sets of presentation conditions are scrolled upor down by five every time when the operator touches a `Previous Page`box or a `Next Page` box arranged on the right side of the lowersection.

The upper section of the presentation sequence input menu G3 includes apresentation sequence and a plurality of number boxes where presentationcondition numbers are input according to the presentation sequence. Onthe display of the presentation sequence input menu G3, the cursor isblinked on a first number box corresponding to Number 1 in thepresentation sequence to wait for input of the first data. Under such aninitialization condition, the operator inputs a desired presentationcondition number into the first number box with the cursor blinkedthereon through operation of the ten-key pad 420 or by touching adesired presentation condition number or a set of presentationconditions corresponding to the desired number displayed on the lowersection of the presentation sequence input menu G3. After input of thedesired presentation condition number into the first number box, thecursor moves to a second number box corresponding to Number 2 in thepresentation sequence to wait for input of a presentation conditionnumber into the second number box. Desired presentation conditionnumbers are successively input according to the presentation sequence inthe above manner.

The presentation condition numbers may be input at random instead ofaccording to the presentation sequence. In this case, the operator firsttouches a desired number in the presentation sequence or a number boxcorresponding to the desired number so as to move the cursor to thenumber box of the desired number and wait for data input. The operatorthen inputs a desired presentation condition number into the selectednumber box with the cursor blinked thereon as described above. Afterdata input into the selected number box, the cursor moves to and isblinked on a next number box in the presentation sequence. The operatoragain touches a desired number in the presentation sequence or a numberbox corresponding to the desired number for input of next data.

After data input into the first through tenth number boxes, the uppersection of the presentation sequence input menu G3 shows sixth throughfifteenth number boxes in place of the first through tenth number boxes,and the cursor is blinked on an eleventh number box to wait for datainput. When the operator touches a `Previous Page` box or a `Next Page`box arranged on the right side of the upper section on the menu G3,numbers in the presentation sequence with number boxes are scrolled leftor right by five on the screen 410. When the operator touches an `INS`box while the cursor is blinked on a certain number box corresponding toa certain number in the presentation sequence, a new set of apresentation number and a number box is inserted before the set of thecertain number and number box, and numbers in the presentation sequenceafter the certain number are respectively incremented by one. When theoperator touches a `DEL` box, on the contrary, a certain number and acorresponding number box with the cursor blinked thereon are deletedfrom the presentation sequence, and numbers in the presentation sequenceafter the certain number are decremented by one.

When the operator touches an `End` box in the lower section of the menuG3 after input of the presentation sequence at step S710, the programgoes to step S720 at which data representing the presentation sequenceis written at a predetermined address of the RAM 454. The program thenreturns to step S680 to display the mode selector menu G2 on the screen410. When the operator touches the `End` box under such a condition thatthere are one or a plurality of vacant number boxes with no presentationcondition numbers, these vacant number boxes and corresponding numbersin the presentation sequence are deleted, and the remaining numbers inthe presentation sequence are adjusted adequately.

When the `Presentation Time` mode is selected on the mode selector menuG2 at step S690, the program goes to step S730 at which a presentationtime input menu G4 typically shown in FIG. 31 is displayed on the screen410. The presentation time input menu G4 includes a plurality of timeboxes where data of a presentation time period is input for each set ofpresentation conditions as well as a presentation sequence, presentationcondition numbers, and plural sets of presentation conditionscorresponding to the presentation condition numbers and including thetype of the material, the size of the material, and the zoom view angle.These data are shown in the order of the presentation sequence. When the`Presentation Time` mode is selected under such a condition that no datahas been input for the presentation sequence, the presentation sequenceis set in the order of the presentation condition numbers, and theplural sets of presentation conditions are shown in the order of thepresentation condition numbers on the presentation time input menu G4.On the display of the presentation time input menu G4, the cursor isblinked on a first time box corresponding to Number 1 in thepresentation sequence to wait for data input. Under such aninitialization condition, data representing a presentation time is inputinto the first time box through operation of the ten-key pad 420. Afterdata is input into the first time box, the cursor moves to a second timebox corresponding to Number 2 in the presentation sequence to wait fornext data input. Data representing presentation time periods may also beinput at random instead of according to the presentation sequence. Thecursor is moved to a desired time box to wait for input of next data bytouching a desired number in the presentation sequence, a desiredpresentation condition number, a set of presentation conditionscorresponding to the desired presentation number, or the desired timebox.

After data is input into the first through tenth time boxes, thepresentation time input menu G4 shows eleventh through twentieth timeboxes in place of the first through tenth time boxes, and the cursor isblinked on an eleventh time box to wait for data input. When theoperator touches a `Previous Page` box or a `Next Page` box arranged onthe right side of the menu G4, numbers in the presentation sequence withthe corresponding time boxes and presentation conditions are scrolled upor down by ten on the screen 410. When the operator touches an `s/m`box, the unit of the time period input in each time box is changed from`second` to `minute` or vice versa.

When the operator touches an `End` box on the menu G4 after input of thepresentation time periods at step S740, the program goes to step S750 atwhich data representing the presentation time periods is written at apredetermined address of the RAM 454. The program then returns to stepS680 to display the mode selector menu G2 on the screen 410.

When the `End` box is selected on the mode selector menu G2 at stepS690, the program goes to step S760 at which a list G5 of the currentpresentation sequence, conditions and time periods typically shown inFIG. 32 is displayed on the screen 410. The list G5 includes apresentation sequence, presentation condition numbers, plural sets ofpresentation conditions corresponding to the presentation conditionnumbers and including the type of the material, the size of thematerial, and the zoom view angle, and a plurality of presentation timeperiods set for the plural sets of presentation conditions. These dataare shown in the order of the presentation sequence. When the operatortouches the `End` box on the menu G2 prior to selection of the`Presentation Sequence` mode, the presentation sequence is determinedand displayed in the order of the presentation condition numbers. Whenthe operator touches the `End` box on the menu G2 prior to selection ofthe `Presentation Time` mode, on the other hand, no data are shown inthe column of the presentation time periods on the list G5. When theoperator touches a `Previous Page` box or a `Next Page` box arranged onthe upper right corner of the list G5, numbers in the presentationsequence with the corresponding presentation conditions and time periodsare scrolled up or down by ten on the screen 410. When the operatortouches an `End` box disposed on the lower right corner of the list G5,the program goes to step S770 at which data representing thepresentation sequence and presentation time periods is written at apredetermined address of the RAM 454. The program then exits from thisroutine and returns to step S500 in the flowchart of FIG. 25 to displaythe main menu MG on the screen 410.

When the `Presentation` mode is selected on the main menu MG at stepS500, a presentation routine shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 33Athrough 33C is executed by the CPU 450 of the external controller 400.When the program enters the presentation routine in the flowchart ofFIG. 33A, a presentation mode selector menu T1 typically shown in FIG.34 is displayed on the screen 410 at step S800. The presentation modeselection menu T1 includes three presentation modes shown below and an`End` mode:

(1) `Presentation Select` for presentation under a selected presentationcondition;

(2) `Presentation Sequence` for presentation according to thepresentation sequence; and

(3) `Presentation Sequence Time` for presentation according to thepresentation sequence and time.

When the `Presentation Select` mode is selected on the menu T1 at stepS810, the program goes to step S820 in the flowchart of FIG. 33B atwhich a presentation condition selector menu T2 typically shown in FIG.35 is displayed on the screen 410. The presentation condition selectormenu T2 includes presentation condition numbers and plural sets ofpresentation conditions arranged in the order of the presentationcondition numbers and including the type of the material, the size ofthe material, and the zoom view angle. The operator then selects adesired set of presentation conditions at step S822 by inputting adesired presentation condition number from the ten-key pad 420 ortouching a desired presentation condition number or set of presentationconditions on the menu T2. When the operator touches a `Previous Page`box or a `Next Page` box on the upper right corner on the menu T2,presentation condition numbers with the corresponding sets ofpresentation conditions are scrolled up or down by ten.

When a desired presentation condition number is selected at step S822,the program goes to step S824 at which it is determined whether theoperator touches the `End` box on the lower right corner on the menu T2.When the answer is NO at step S824, the program goes to step S826 atwhich data of a desired set of presentation conditions corresponding tothe selected presentation condition number are read out of apredetermined address of the RAM 454. The CPU 450 then transmits theinput data representing the desired set of presentation conditions tothe presentation supporting system 10 via the line driver/receivercircuit 480 of the external controller 400 and the line driver/receivercircuit 336 of the presentation supporting system 10 at step S828. Thepresentation supporting system 10 is accordingly set under thetransmitted set of presentation conditions previously adjusted andstored for the material. The program then goes to step S830 at which alist T3 of the current presentation conditions typically shown in FIG.36 is displayed on the screen 410. The list T3 includes a selectedpresentation condition number and the corresponding set of presentationconditions including the type of the material, the size of the material,the position of display, and the zoom view angle. In this manner, theoperator can check the presentation conditions currently set in thepresentation supporting system 10 by reading the list T3 displayed onthe screen 410 of the external controller 400.

When the operator touches an `End` box arranged on the lower rightcorner of the list T3 at step S832, the program returns to step S820 todisplay the presentation condition selector menu T2 on the screen 410.The presentation supporting system 10 is maintained under thetransmitted set of presentation conditions until a next set ofpresentation conditions is selected and transmitted. When the operatortouches the `End` box on the lower right corner of the menu T2 at stepS824, the program returns to step S800 in the flowchart of FIG. 33A todisplay the presentation mode selector menu T1 on the screen 410 andwait for next mode selection.

When the `Presentation Sequence` mode is selected on the menu T1 at stepS810, the program goes to step S840 in the flowchart of FIG. 33A atwhich an initial value `1` is set in a presentation sequence number N.In the `Presentation Sequence` mode, presentation conditions are changedaccording to the presentation sequence. The CPU 450 reads datarepresenting a certain set of presentation conditions corresponding to apresentation condition number set for the presentation sequence number Nout of a predetermined address of the RAM 454 at step S842. The CPU 450then transmits the input data representing the set of presentationconditions to the CPU 301 of the presentation supporting system 10 viathe line driver/receiver circuit 480 of the external controller 400 andthe line driver/receiver circuit 336 of the presentation supportingsystem 10 at step S844. The presentation supporting system 10 isaccordingly set under the transmitted set of presentation conditions.

After the CPU 450 transmit s the input data to the presentationsupporting system 10, the program goes to step S846 at which a menu T4for changing presentation conditions typically shown in FIG. 37 isdisplayed on the screen 410. The menu T4 includes a selectedpresentation sequence number, the corresponding presentation conditionnumber, and the corresponding set of presentation conditions currentlyset in the presentation supporting system 10 and including the type ofthe material, the size of the material, the position of display, and thezoom view angle. When the operator touches a `Previous` box or a `Next`box disposed on the right side of the menu T4 at step S848, the programgoes to step S850 to decrement the presentation sequence number N by oneor to step S852 to increment the presentation sequence number N by one,and returns to step S842 to read next data corresponding to thedecremented or incremented presentation sequence number. Throughselection of the `Previous` box or the `Next` box, presentationconditions set in the presentation supporting system 10 are changedaccording to the presentation sequence. The presentation supportingsystem 10 is maintained under the transmitted set of presentationconditions until a next set of presentation conditions is selected andtransmitted.

When the operator touches an `End` box on the lower right corner of themenu T4 at step S848, the program stops the process in the `PresentationSequence` mode and immediately returns to step S800 in the flowchart ofFIG. 33A to display the presentation mode selector menu T1 on the screen410 and wait for next mode selection.

When the `Presentation Sequence Time` mode is selected on the menu T1 atstep S810, the program goes to step S860 in the flowchart of FIG. 33C atwhich an initial value `1` is set in a presentation sequence number N.In the `Presentation Sequence Time` mode, presentation conditions arechanged according to the presentation sequence and time. The CPU 450reads data representing a certain set of presentation conditionscorresponding to a presentation condition number set for thepresentation sequence number N out of a predetermined address of the RAM454 at step S862. When no data to be input exits at the predeterminedaddress of the RAM 454, an `EOF` flag is set to show existence of noinput data. When the `EOF` flag is set at step S863, the program stopsthe process in the `Presentation Sequence Time` mode and returns to stepS800 in the flowchart of FIG. 33A. This `EOF` flag is generally setafter display of the last set of presentation conditions according tothe presentation sequence. The CPU 450 then transmits the input datarepresenting the set of presentation conditions to the CPU 301 of thepresentation supporting system 10 via the line driver/receiver circuit480 of the external controller 400 and the line driver/receiver circuit336 of the presentation supporting system 10 at step S864. Thepresentation supporting system 10 is accordingly set under thetransmitted set of presentation conditions.

After the CPU 450 transmits the input data to the presentationsupporting system 10, the program goes to step S866 at which a list T5of the current presentation conditions and time typically shown in FIG.38 is displayed on the screen 410. The list T5 includes a presentationtime and a time elapsed as well as a selected presentation sequencenumber, the corresponding presentation condition number, and thecorresponding set of presentation conditions currently set in thepresentation supporting system 10 and including the type of thematerial, the size of the material, the position of display, and thezoom view angle. The time elapsed represents a time period elapsed aftertransmission of a certain set of presentation conditions to thepresentation supporting system 10. When a set of presentation conditionsare transmitted to the presentation supporting system 10, a timer (notshown) built in the external controller 400 is reset to count a timeperiod elapsed. When the time period elapsed becomes equal to the presetpresentation time at step S870, the program goes to step S872 at whichthe presentation sequence number N is incremented by one, and thenreturns to step S862 to transmit another set of presentation conditionscorresponding to the incremented presentation sequence number N to thepresentation supporting system 10. By repeatedly executing steps S862through S872, presentation conditions set in the presentation supportingsystem 10 are changed according to the preset presentation sequence andthe preset presentation time.

When the operator touches a `Stop` box disposed on the lower rightcorner of the list T5 during execution of any step S862 through S872,the program immediately stops the process in the `Presentation SequenceTime` mode and returns to step S800 in the flowchart of FIG. 33A todisplay the presentation mode selector menu T1 on the screen 410 andwait for next mode selection.

When the `End` box is selected on the presentation mode selector menu T1at step S810, the program returns to step S500 in the flowchart of FIG.25 to display the main menu MG shown in FIG. 26 on the screen to waitfor next mode selection.

The presentation supporting system 10 described above uses the externalcontroller 400 to store a variety of presentation conditions includingselection of the auxiliary lighting units 22 or the base light unit,selection of input data, the microphone volume, and the position of thevideo camera 20. A desired set of presentation conditions is readilyselected out of the plural sets with the presentation condition selectormenu T2 displayed on the screen 410 of the controller 400, and is thentransmitted to the presentation supporting system 10, which isaccordingly set under the transmitted set of presentation conditions.This allows one or a plurality of operators to efficiently set desiredpresentation conditions for a variety of materials in the presentationsupporting system 10.

The external controller 400 is also utilized to set a presentationsequence for presentation condition numbers corresponding to the pluralsets of presentation conditions thus stored. In such a case,presentation conditions set in the presentation supporting system 10 areautomatically changed only by varying the presentation condition numbersaccording to the presentation sequence. It is accordingly not necessaryto adjust or select the presentation conditions in the presentationsupporting system 10 every time when a new material is shown in alecture, meeting, or presentation. The external controller 400 isfurther utilized to determine a plurality of time periods forpresentation when a certain material is shown under a selected set ofpresentation conditions as well as the presentation sequence.Presentation conditions set in the presentation supporting system 10 arechanged every time when a preset presentation time period has elapsedaccording to the presentation sequence. This is especially preferablewhen a presentation time period for showing a certain material ispreviously determined.

In the presentation supporting system 10 of the embodiment, thedirection of the video camera 20 is adequately adjusted to allow aplurality of materials placed simultaneously on the table 12 to be shownsuccessively. Under such a condition that the presentation sequence andpresentation time periods are previously determined with the externalcontroller 400 as described above, the presentation supporting system 10is allowed to automatically project reproduction images of thesematerials on the table 12 in succession according to the preset sequenceand time periods only by operating the external controller 400 oncebefore start of presentation. This procedure is described moreconcretely. While a plurality of materials are placed on the table 12 ofthe presentation supporting system 10, the external controller 400 isused to store plural sets of presentation conditions required for thematerials and specify a desired presentation sequence and plurality ofpresentation time periods for the plural sets of presentationconditions. By selecting the `Presentation Sequence Time` mode on thepresentation mode selector menu T1 of the controller 400, the pluralityof materials are successively projected according to the specifiedpresentation sequence and time periods by the presentation supportingsystem 10. The combined use of the presentation supporting system 10 andthe external controller 400 remarkably improves the efficiency ofpresentation.

The external controller 400 separately formed from the presentationsupporting system 10 can be used as a remote control of the presentationsupporting system 10. The external controller 400 is communicated withthe presentation supporting system 10 via an RS-232C communicationcircuit, and the controller 400 may thus be applicable to anotherpresentation supporting system having the same communication system.

In the above embodiment, the camera body 20a may be constructed to allowrotation around a shooting direction. In such a structure, areproduction image of a certain material placed on the table 12 of thepresentation supporting system 10 can be rotated without actually movingthe material. When the presentation supporting system 10 is furtherprovided with a mechanism for detecting an inclination of the materialplaced on the table 12, the camera body 20a is rotated according to theinclination of the material to output a reproduction image with noinclination. For example, a predetermined symbol such as `+` is placedon four corners or any selected positions of the material, and theinclination of the material is determined according to positions of thesymbols in an image of the material. The camera body 20a is then rotatedaccording to the inclination to compensate for the inclination andoutput a reproduction image with no inclination. This mechanism saveslabor and time of the operator for placing the material flat on thetable with great care.

Other possible methods of detecting an inclination of the materialinclude a process of detecting an inclination of a straight linepreviously drawn on a selected side of the material, a process ofdetecting an inclination of frame lines in a table included in thematerial, and a process of detecting an inclination of a rectangularsheet material or a rectangular bottom face of a three-dimensionalmaterial.

Although plural sets of presentation conditions are stored in the RAM454 of the external controller 400 in the above embodiment, the externalcontroller 400 may be provided with an external memory unit such as anIC card interface or a flexible disk drive unit to store thepresentation conditions. In this structure, desired sets of presentationconditions stored in the external memory unit are read into the externalcontroller 400 according to the requirements so as to control thepresentation supporting system 10.

Since there may be many other changes, modification, and alterationswithout departing from the scope or spirit of essential characteristicsof the invention, it is clearly understood that the above embodiment isonly illustrative and not restrictive in any sense. Some examples ofmodification include a structure for storing presentation conditionsinto a battery back-up RAM, a structure for storing a plurality ofpresentation sequences, a structure for numerically inputtingpresentation conditions to the presentation supporting system, astructure where the presentation supporting system has a function ofstoring presentation conditions and specifying the presentation sequenceand time periods, and a structure where the controller is communicatedwith the presentation supporting system not by a communication cable butvia optical or electromagnetic communication.

In the presentation supporting system of the invention described above,when the video camera for taking a visual image of the material is heldon a predetermined camera position above the table, the camerasupporting arm member with the video camera held thereon is coupled withthe camera supporting base member fixed to the table to allow pivotalmovement of the arm member towards the table. The camera supporting armmember is pivotably moved and folded towards the table to move the videocamera from the camera position to a predetermined position close to anddirectly above the upper face of the table.

The presentation supporting system of the invention is compactly packedor stored under a non-service condition by simply folding the camerasupporting arm member towards the table to locate the video cameradirectly above and close to the upper face of the table. This saveslabor, space and materials required for packing. Since the video camerais positioned directly above the table, a packaging box is not requiredto have a complicated shape as a conventional presentation supportingsystem. The compact packaging of the presentation supporting system inthe simple shape of the box improves the packing efficiency in acontainer and reduces the shipment cost.

In the presentation supporting system of the invention, the camerasupporting arm member is joined with the camera supporting base memberwith an identical fixation member under both a service condition wherethe video camera is located at the predetermined camera position abovethe table or a non-service condition where the camera supporting armmember is folded towards the table. This effectively prevents thefixation member from being lost by accident.

The cushioning member of the invention is interposed between the videocamera and the table under a non-service condition where the camerasupporting arm member is folded towards the table to hold the videocamera at a resting position, and effectively protects the video camerafrom being damaged.

In the presentation supporting system of the invention, a variety ofpresentation conditions including a shooting condition and a soundvolume are stored in the memory unit when a predetermined firstcondition is fulfilled through operation of selected control buttons.The presentation conditions thus stored are recovered when apredetermined second condition is fulfilled through a power supply oroperation of certain control buttons. Once a desired set of presentationconditions are set in the presentation supporting system, the desiredconditions can be recovered any time according to the requirements, forexample, on every power supply. This structure allows desired or optimalsettings to be recovered without any trouble even when a plurality ofoperators use the presentation supporting system, thus significantlyimproving the efficiency of presentation.

The presentation supporting system of the invention further has afunction of storing a plurality of presentation conditions and selectinga desirable one out of the plurality of presentation conditionsaccording to a subject matter on the table to set the presentationsupporting system in the desirable condition. This system does notrequire adjustment of the presentation conditions every time when adifferent operator uses the presentation supporting system.

The presentation supporting system may further be provided with amechanism for adjusting a shooting area on the table. This mechanismallows a desired part of a material on the table to . be shown withoutmoving the material or a plurality of materials on the table to be shownsuccessively.

In the presentation supporting system of the invention, a presentationsequence may be specified for the plurality of presentation conditionspreviously stored. In this case, one or a plurality of materials can beeffectively shown in a lecture or presentation under certainpresentation conditions selected according to the presentation sequence.In another application, a plurality of presentation time periods as wellas the presentation sequence may be specified for the plurality ofpresentation conditions. In such a case, the presentation conditions setin the presentation supporting system are changed according to thepresentation sequence every time when each preset presentation timeperiod has elapsed. This allows a plurality of materials to be shownsuccessively under the respective presentation conditions specifiedaccording to the presentation sequence and time. When the presentationsupporting system has a combined function of adjusting the shooting areaand specifying the presentation sequence and time, a plurality ofmaterials placed on the table are allowed to be successively projectedaccording to the preset presentation sequence and time periods.

The controller device of the invention can be connected to thepresentation supporting system to store a plurality of presentationconditions and select a desirable one out of the plurality of conditionsso as to set the presentation supporting system in the desirablecondition.

The spirit and scope of the present invention is limited only by theterms of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image reproduction apparatus comprising camerameans for taking a visual image of a material, a sample, or anothersubject matter placed on a table, an image signal representing thevisual image of said subject matter taken by said camera means beingtransmitted to an external display unit to show a reproduction image ofsaid subject matter,said image reproduction apparatus further comprisingpresentation condition adjustment means for adjusting a presentationcondition for said subject matter, memory means for storing a pluralityof presentation condition groups including a plurality of predeterminedpresentation conditions adjusted by said presentation conditionadjustment means, presentation condition selection means for selectingone of said plurality of presentation condition groups stored in saidmemory means, and presentation condition setting means for settingpresentation conditions included in said one presentation conditiongroup selected by said presentation condition selection means in saidpresentation supporting system.
 2. An image production apparatus inaccordance with claim 1, said apparatus further comprising sequencespecification means for specifying a sequence of said plurality ofpresentation condition groups stored in said memory means,wherein saidpresentation condition selection means selects each of said plurality ofpresentation condition groups according to the sequence specified bysaid sequence specification means.
 3. A presentation supporting systemcomprising camera means for taking a visual image of a material, asample, or another subject matter placed on a table, an image signalrepresenting the visual image of said subject matter taken by saidcamera means being transmitted to an external display unit to show areproduction image of said subject matter,said presentation supportingsystem further comprising presentation condition adjustment means foradjusting a presentation condition for said subject matter, memory meansfor storing a plurality of presentation conditions adjusted by saidpresentation condition adjustment means, presentation conditionselection means for selecting one of said plurality of presentationconditions stored in said memory means, and presentation conditionsetting means for setting said one presentation condition selected bysaid presentation condition selection means in said presentationsupporting system, said presentation condition adjustment meansadjusting a first presentation condition concerning with a light sourcefor irradiating said subject matter on said table, a second presentationcondition concerning with settings of said camera means for taking thevisual image of said subject matter on said table, and a thirdpresentation condition concerning with a display mode for outputting thevisual image of said subject matter, said presentation conditionselection means selecting one out of said first, second, and thirdpresentation conditions.
 4. A presentation supporting system comprisingcamera means for taking a visual image of a material, a sample, oranother subject matter placed on a table, an image signal representingthe visual image of said subject matter taken by said camera means beingtransmitted to an external display unit to show a reproduction image ofsaid subject matter,said presentation supporting system furthercomprising presentation condition adjustment means for adjusting apresentation condition for said subject matter, memory means for storinga plurality of presentation conditions adjusted by said presentationcondition adjustment means, presentation condition selection means forselecting one of said plurality of presentation conditions stored insaid memory means, and presentation condition setting means for settingsaid one presentation condition selected by said presentation conditionselection means in said presentation supporting system, saidpresentation condition adjustment means further comprising shootingrange adjustment means for adjusting a shooting range of said camerameans on said table.
 5. A presentation supporting system in accordancewith claim 4, wherein said shooting range adjustment means adjusts ashooting direction of said camera means for taking the visual image ofsaid subject matter.
 6. A presentation supporting system in accordancewith claim 5, wherein said shooting range adjustment means sets theshooting direction of said camera means in an arbitrary area selectedamong a center area, a front area, a rear area, a right area, and a leftarea on a top face of said table.
 7. A presentation supporting systemcomprising camera means for taking a visual image of a material, asample, or another subject matter placed on a table, an image signalrepresenting the visual image of said subject matter taken by saidcamera means being transmitted to an external display unit to show areproduction image of said subject matter,said presentation supportingsystem further comprising presentation condition adjustment means foradjusting a presentation condition for said subject matter, memory meansfor storing a plurality of presentation conditions adjusted by saidpresentation condition adjustment means, presentation conditionselection means for selecting one of said plurality of presentationconditions stored in said memory means, and presentation conditionsetting means for setting said one presentation condition selected bysaid presentation condition selection means in said presentationsupporting system, sequence specification means for specifying asequence of said plurality of presentation conditions stored in saidmemory means, and presentation time specification means for specifying apresentation time period when one of said plurality of presentationconditions is set according to the sequence specified by said sequencespecification means, wherein said presentation condition selection meansselects one of said plurality of presentation conditions according tothe sequence specified by said sequence specification means every timewhen the presentation time period specified by said presentation timespecification means has elapsed.
 8. A controller device used for animage reproduction apparatus for taking a visual image of a material, asample, or another subject matter placed on a table and outputting animage signal representing the visual image of said subject matter to anexternal display unit to show a reproduction image of said subjectmatter, said controller device comprisingmemory means for storing aplurality of presentation condition groups including a plurality ofpresentation conditions for showing the reproduction image of saidsubject matter sent from said presentation supporting system;presentation condition selection means for selecting a presentationcondition group out of said plurality of presentation condition groupsstored in said memory means, and presentation condition control meansfor controlling said image reproduction apparatus based on thepresentation conditions included in said presentation condition groupselected by said presentation condition selection means.
 9. A controllerdevice used for a presentation supporting system for taking a visualimage of a material, a sample, or another subject matter placed on atable and outputting an image signal representing the visual image ofsaid subject matter to an external display unit to show a reproductionimage of said subject matter, said controller device comprisingmemorymeans for storing a plurality of presentation conditions for showing thereproduction image of said subject matter sent from said presentationsupporting system; presentation condition selection means for selectinga presentation condition out of said plurality of presentationconditions stored in said memory means, and presentation conditioncontrol means for controlling said presentation supporting system basedon said presentation condition selected by said presentation conditionselection means, said presentation condition selection means selectingone among a first presentation condition concerning with a light sourcefor irradiating said subject matter on said table, a second presentationcondition concerning with settings of said camera means for taking thevisual image of said subject matter on said table, and a thirdpresentation condition concerning with a display mode for outputting thevisual image of said subject matter.